INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9* black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. VEGETATION AND ALGAL COMMUNITY COMPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THREE CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS RECEIVING AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF AND SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE, 1998 TO 2001 DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Lee Marie Luckeydoo, M. S. ***** The Ohio State University 2002 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Craig B. Davis, Adviser Dr. Norman Fausey, Adviser Dr. Larry C. Brown Environmental Science Graduate Program Dr. Emilie Regnier Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 3049082 __ ____ __ (g> UMI UMI Microform 3049082 Copyright 2002 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Wetland Reservoir Subirrigation Systems (WRSIS) aim to reduce non-point source pollution from agricultural fields while maintaining crop yield and creating wetland wildlife habitat. The WRSIS system directs drainage water from agricultural fields to flow into a passively revegetated constructed wetland, where water undergoes water quality improvement. Water leaving the wetland is stored in an adjacent reservoir and used to subirrigate fields. Three WRSIS demonstration sites were constructed during 1995-1996 in Defiance, Fulton, and Van Wert Counties in Northwest Ohio, an area historically known as the “Great Black Swamp.” Vegetation is known to be important in the function and effectiveness of the wetland in the WRSIS system. The passive revegetation approach chosen for the WRSIS wetlands resulted in approximately similar or increased diversity for the WRSIS wetlands in 2001 compared to 1998; and an overall increase in percent of total known species ranked as wetland indicator species (WIS). Importance Factor Rankings over the study period and seed budget modeling suggest that seeding of some desired species may enhance and expedite WIS vegetation establishment. Moderately similar algal communities were found to exist between sites, as determined by Jaccard’s and Sorenson’s similarity indices. Attempts to use a combination of Palmer’s list of pollutant tolerant genera and Nygaard’s Eutrophication ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Quotient based on genera and abundance shifts to serve as a simple qualitative estimation of trophic level for the WRSIS wetlands resulted in limited success when compared to water nutrient data. This methodology requires additional data collection and further development before utilization as a quick reference tool for trophic estimation. Peak biomass samples collected from the WRSIS constructed wetlands estimated significantly higher production in the shore and mudflat zones over the open water zone. Peak biomass production estimates for vascular vegetation and macro-algae point estimates were greatest in 2000, the wettest year. These constructed wetlands are developing established wetland species over time. Importance factor rankings, seed budgeting, and observed low recruitment from the seed banks indicate that seeding with WIS species would help expedite and sustain increases in wetland species habitat within the WRSIS or similar type wetlands systems. in Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would first like to thank my committee for their guidance, help and patience while working on this project and dissertation. I would like to thank Eric Zwierschke, Ginny Roberts, Robert Meyer, Susan Carty, Dedra Woner and others who have served as grunt labor, motivators, and aided in laboratory activities during the course of this work. I am extremely appreciative for the she information supplied by Bruce Clevenger, Mary Shininger, Gary Prill and Fred Shininger. I am especially thankful for the support of my family and friends. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. VITA October 16,1974 ............................Born- Dayton, Ohio 1997 ................................................B.Sc. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University. 1999 ................................................M.S. Environmental Science, The Ohio State University. August 1997- Present ...................... Graduate Research Associate, The Ohio State University. PUBLICATIONS 1. Luckeydoo, L.M. N. R. Fausey, L.C. Brown and C. B. Davis. "Early Development of Vascular Vegetation of Constructed Wetlands in Northwest Ohio Receiving Agricultural Waters." Agriculture. Ecosystems and Environment 88 (2002): 89- 94. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Environmental Science V Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract .............................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iv Vita...................................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ................................................................................................................... xiii List of Figures...................................................................................................................xvi Chapters: 1. Introduction WRSIS project overview and goals .........................................................................1 The role of vegetation in effluent remediation in treatment wetlands ................... 5 Adaptations of wetland vegetation ......................................................................... 9 Passive revegetation studies of other wetland systems ..........................................10 Research goals and hypothesis ...............................................................................11 Research approach .................................................................................................12 Primer.....................................................................................................................14 Wetland Indicator Species classification ...................................................14 Diversity Indices ........................................................................................15 Importance Factor ......................................................................................17 Algal primer ............................................................................................... 18 Passive revegetation .................................................................................. 22 vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Assorted definitions seed budget terms ...................................................22 References .............................................................................................................24 Figures...................................................................................................................30 Tables .....................................................................................................................34 2. Vascular Vegetation Surveys for Wetland Reservoir Subirrigation System (WRSIS) Wetlands 1998-2001 Abstract ...................................................................................................................36 Introduction ............................................................................................................